Nutrition

Sepioteuthis lessoniana are
obligate predators who eat a variety of different
marine
organisms. They are not dependent on different host organisms for
their survival. In order to eat, Sepioteuthis lessoniana
will use their quick reaction time in order to catch their prey. Two of their tentacles are used to capture the prey and
bring in towards their mouth. Sepioteuthis lessoniana
have a radula which is used to tear their food apart into many different
pieces. This warm watered squid also has a beak which is used to
tear apart organisms before letting it enter their mouth. This
beak can also be used to break shells if the prey item has one.

Sepioteuthis lessoniana have been known to eat
as much as 30% of their body weight a day! This squid is
carnivorous and some favorite meals are
many varieties of crustaceans, fish and shrimp. They
eat only live organisms (important because Sepioteuthis lessoniana
are frequently used in scientific studies within marine tanks). If
there is no live prey around, Sepioteuthis lessoniana will
practice in cannibalism, however this is very rare.

Once the prey is ingested through the radula, the food continues
through the body. Sepioteuthis lessoniana have a complete
digestive system, meaning that the animal has both a mouth and an anus.
Nutrients are absorbed into the body through the stomach and intestinal
walls. Both the mantle and the digestive gland tissues are used as
energy storage.

The amount of Sepioteuthis lessoniana found
in nature has increased a significant amount over the past thirty years.
This is though to be due to the fact that there has been an increased
removal of animals who eat squid such as toothed whales and tuna.

For more information on this global warming crisis
and the affects on Sepioteuthis lessoniana please visit
Australian
Science.